Piracy from a failed state, meets a failed policy

Michael Ramirez looks at the tangle of modern piracy. Investor's Business Daily reports:

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A picture of what is happening is important: Somalia is a failed state that's become a pirate paradise. The 88 attacks off its coast and the Gulf of Aden in 2008 account for a third of the world's sea hijackings. Unarmed tankers and cargo ships are easy pickings, and with no government to turn to for help, shipping companies pay ransoms to recover their ships and kidnapped crewmen.

Of course when a ransom is paid, a new hijacking takes place afterward. The New York Times reports that Somali officials say that 2008 is a record year for pirate profits, with ransoms bringing in $50 million so far. The attacks have grown bolder — a Ukrainian weapons ship was seized just before the supertanker was taken.

Clearly, anarchy is fueling piracy and ransoms are empowering pirates. If they are to be stopped, coordinated action from the international community, the kind used to break terror and drug-trafficking groups, is critical, and every nation must be a partner.

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More importantly, the paying of ransoms has to end. The fact that no U.S. ships have been attacked in that area probably has much to do with U.S. policy to never negotiate with terrorists.

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Many of their other suggestions require defending ships. I think that is not the most efficient way to handle the problem. It makes more sense to destroy the pirate bases and and their boats. That is quicker and less costly. The paying or ransoms is only encouraging the current piracy.

The New Scientist looks at some of the high tech weaponry being used to fight off the pirate attacks. Apparently most of the ships don't have it or it does not work very well.